Comments on: A Review of Self-Publishing Review Sites

By: Randall Radic

Randall Radic — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:44:55 +0000

I enjoy SPR, Henry. Just the way it is. Honest, objective criticism is wonderful. Dishonest, subjective criticism that is driven by a hidden agenda is deplorable. Too many book review sites are the latter. Happily, SPR isn’t one of ‘those’ sites.

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By: Cheryl Anne Gardner

Cheryl Anne Gardner — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:21:56 +0000

Totally agree Kristen. I have had great reviews, negative reviews, mixed ones, and have been totally ignored. I think the totally ignored was the worst, and the mixed was the best. If I even review a book that means I found some merit in it. Someone, a few someones actually, found merit in my work and were nice enough to point out the glaring flaws when I first started out. When I joined The Podpeople, I wanted to pay it forward to use the cliche.

Even mainstream review sites like Kirkus and PW rarely give glowing reviews, most are mixed, and these are for vetted books. I have read a few self-pub books that were damn near perfect. Lord knows, my own are, no doubt, far from perfect. Certainly not in my own eyes, as I hate everything I write. But some like my work and some don’t. I think a mixed review is the best thing an author can get — worth is weight in gold. I have bought books the Podler has reviewed; I have bought books Odyssey and the Lulu Book review have reviewed, and I have turned around and reviewed some of them myself. I don’t comment on books I haven’t read thoroughly. I haven’t read Frank’s Book, but I do read frequently in that genre, hell, I read Trainspotting, and I am reading a self-pub one now.

We want to offer self-pub authors a place to go, but we also don’t want to set them up with any delusions. The mainstream reviewers will be merciless, and it doesn’t matter if they are right or wrong, they are mainstream reviewers and they have the street cred. Unfortunately, glowing reviews don’t get street cred. When something is too good, people think it’s suspect. Human nature, I suppose.

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By: Kristen

Kristen — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:34:51 +0000

I would have to say that – like anyone – I would LOVE a great review, but that I would also appreciate having negative things pointed out, too. It makes the review more trustworthy, and therefore more credible (to me).

P.S. Great post by Daniels you link to. Horribly unfortunate, but good.

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By: Frank Daniels

Frank Daniels — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 17:39:31 +0000

Dont change a thing about this site. That Giggles bitch doesn’t have a clue. Further point made in the comments section under her worthless article.

Thanks for the props H.

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By: Henry Baum

Henry Baum — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 23:54:46 +0000

And further proof that Frank Daniels is the possibly the most honest writer working today, read this:

http://nfrankdaniels.wordpress.com/2009/04/01/dead-again/

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By: Cheryl Anne Gardner

Cheryl Anne Gardner — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 19:36:54 +0000

No Henry, I don’t think you need to change direction. That will all depend on what your goals are. What was your intent with this site in the first place? I always saw it as a place for Indie authors. An Advocate, if you will, which means not only reviews but also articles, commentary, and opinions on the industry. You have reviews for service providers, Indie centric interviews, and some advertising on your site. Advocacy to this degree is often misconstrued as bias. It happens. If you are happy with the site and your readers are happy with the site, then a bad review of the site is just something to consider. It happens, just like with a bad book a review.

Reader-centric sites are just that, by readers for readers. They want the smack-down on a book so they can determine whether or not to part with their hard earned cash. It’s really that simple.

Now there are hybrids out there like Podbram and Podpeople and Odyssey and many many others who take a very strong reader-centric view. Yes, they post columns on the art of writing and relevant industry news. Some post nothing at all but reviews … it’s just at a different angle. They key is the same whether it be blogging or writing fiction: Know your reader, which equates to knowing your intent. If there is glory in reviewing, I haven’t found it yet.

So, if you come in top 10 as an Indie Author Advocate and that was your intent, Indies being your primary readership, then you have done well.

If you come in top 10 as an Indie Author Advocate and your intent was to attract Mr. or Mrs. Hardcore reader and bookbuyer, then maybe you haven’t done well.

Me — and I am speaking for me, not the rest of the podpeeps — I never know if I am doing well or not. I just do what feels right to me and hope for the best, bad reviews and all.

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By: SPR Listed One of the Top Ten Blogs for Indie Authors | Self-Publishing Review

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:54:08 +0000

[...] enough, this runs counter to a bad review yesterday of the self-publishing book review blogosphere, which indirectly critiqued Self-Publishing Review [...]

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